On September 4th 1939, Britain declared war on Nazi Germany, following the 'blitzkreig' on Polan. And, just as in 1914, the British Empire was also at war. Consequently, thousands of youn-and-not so young - Australian men volunteered to serve in the 2nd AIR, as their fathers and uncles had enlisted in the 1st Australian Imperial Forces a quarter of a century earlier. Women continued to their supportive roles, but Women's Services were formed. Very quickly, the first casualty lists began to appear in the newspapers; was this a preview of things to come?